He had a good-tempered face and kind eyes, and she thought she should like him.
"Bit tired, I expect ?" "Yes, thank you, I am," said Jessie shyly.
"Hullo, missis, been having a spring clean ?" he asked comically, as he glanced about him.

"The place looks so tidy I hardly knew it." Mrs.Lang looked half annoyed.

"New brooms sweep clean," she said shortly, "and two pairs of hands can do what one can't." "That's true," said the young man soothingly.

"I don't know how you ever managed to get through it all by yourself." Mrs.Lang looked mollified.

"It would have been all right if Harry would have lent a hand now and then," she said, "but he won't even clean his own boots, let alone any one else's; while as for bringing in a scuttle of coal, or going an errand, or putting a spade near the garden, he'd think himself disgraced for ever if he did either.
Disgraced! He!" with a bitter laugh, and the meaning in her voice should have made her self-satisfied husband feel very small--if anything could have that effect on him.
Just at that moment heavy footsteps were heard approaching and conversation ceased.
"Here's your father coming," said Mrs.Lang in a lowered tone to Jessie.